– photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Justice-
The United States Department of Justice reported that Frank William Robertson Perry, age 39, of Dundalk, has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Perry has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the Boogaloo, Movement.
“Boogaloo” is a term referencing a violent uprising or impending civil war, and is sometimes used by militia extremists and racially or ethnically motivated extremists.
Perry was arrested late on Oct. 7. A virtual initial appearance was scheduled in U.S. District Court on Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson.
The arrest was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.
According to the criminal complaint and court documents, a search warrant was executed at Perry’s residence, which he shares with his girlfriend.
Agents recovered from the bedroom: a black tactical vest containing two ballistic plates on the interior of the vest; two loaded rifle magazines located in pouches affixed to the exterior of the vest; a third loaded rifle magazine located on top of the vest; an AM-15 rifle which was partially concealed behind a nightstand; eight rounds of .223-caliber ammunition located in the nightstand; and other firearms-related accessories.
As detailed in the criminal complaint, Perry’s girlfriend was in the home at the time of the search and agreed to speak with agents. She advised that she had purchased the AM-15 lower receiver in April at the suggestion of Perry, who said that she needed the weapon for self-defense. She told agents that she learned Perry was obtaining firearms parts and shipping them to the residence in her name, and law enforcement found that the items were purchased using Perry’s credit card.
In addition, Perry’s girlfriend stated that she had not been involved in building the rifle—that was done by Perry and a neighbor. Perry was arrested while he was en route to the residence.
According to court documents, Perry is prohibited from possessing firearms and/or ammunition as a result of a previous felony conviction.
Investigation revealed that while the firearm is registered to Perry’s girlfriend, a review of her social media indicates no apparent interest or involvement with firearms, hunting, the Second Amendment, or the Boogaloo Movement, nor was there any record of Perry’s girlfriend ever having a hunting license, or any other firearms registered in her name.
In contrast, as detailed in the court documents, Perry’s social media reflects a substantial interest in firearms and militia extremist activities.
If convicted, Perry faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the ATF, for their work in the investigation and thanked the Baltimore County Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen O. Gavin and P. Michael Cunningham, who are prosecuting the case.
